Four Golfers Share Lead at PGA Championship as Woods Closes In

19 Aug 2006

Aug. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Henrik Stenson, Billy Andrade, Tim Herron and Luke Donald share a one-stroke lead entering today's third round at the PGA Championship with Tiger Woods in pursuit.

The leaders are at 8-under-par at the midway point of golf's final major tournament of the year at Medinah Country Club outside Chicago. Woods, the world's No. 1 player, birdied the 18th hole yesterday to pull within a shot of the leaders.

``I'm in good shape, only one back,'' Woods said in his post-round news conference yesterday. ``That's a bunched leaderboard.''

Stenson, a 30-year-old Swede, set the early pace yesterday with a 4-under 68. Herron then birdied his final two holes for a 67, while Andrade also birdied the 18th to shoot 69. Donald, who played college golf at nearby Northwestern University, had a 68.

``This is fun, this is what you've got to enjoy doing,'' the 42-year-old Andrade, who made the field as the seventh alternate, told reporters. ``I'm looking forward to the weekend.''

Woods's late birdie gave him a 68 and moved him to 7-under. He's tied with 1997 champion Davis Love III and U.S. Open winner Geoff Ogilvy.

Softer Greens

Woods said heavy rain that fell after last night's play ended, combined with showers forecast for this morning, might make for soft greens and low scores.

``It's going to be soft obviously with the rain now,'' Woods told reporters. ``All it take is some good ball-striking and you're going to have a lot of good looks here; the greens aren't real tough to read.''

Woods and Chris Riley will tee off at 1:25 p.m. local time, followed at 10-minute intervals by Love and Ogilvy, Donald and Herron, and Stenson and Andrade, the day's final group.

Phil Mickelson, playing with Woods and Ogilvy in the first two rounds, shot 71 yesterday. The defending champion birdied the 18th hole to get to 4-under overall.

``I need to go out and shoot a low round,'' Mickelson told reporters. ``Six under par tomorrow would put me right in it for Sunday.''

First-round co-leader Riley, 2001 champion David Toms, Fred Funk and Billy Mayfair are at 6-under. Former Masters champion Mike Weir, Sergio Garcia and 2003 winner Shaun Micheel are among six golfers at 5-under. First-round co-leader Lucas Glover joins Mickelson in a group of seven at 4-under after a 2-over-par 74 yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Bob Bensch in New York at bbensch@bloomberg.net